"I think coach Narduzzi's going to be a head coach," Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis told reporters Thursday in East Lansing. "I think coach Narduzzi believes in this program. What we did is we sat down and said, 'Here’s a compensation that gets you in the frame, but also an opportunity for you to achieve what you really want to achieve, which is a head coaching position.' He and some of the other (assistant) positions were very far off from the norm, and now I believe they’re in the norm."

The second highest raise among Michigan State assistants given to offensive coordinator Dan Roushar, who was bumped to $305,000 from $230,000 annually.